Report of the city of Somerville 1905, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 486


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1905 > Part 20


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36


·


968


34


England, Scotland, and Wales


38


265


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


patient resides, and the librarian of the public library are notified, and state board of health.


Scarlet Fever .- One hundred thirty-seven cases of scarlet fever have been reported during the year, four of which resulted fatally. In 1904 there were one hundred nineteen cases, three of which resulted fatally.


Diphtheria .- One hundred and ninety-nine cases of diph- theria have been reported during the year, seventeen of which were fatal. In 1904 there were three hundred and seventy-one cases, fourteen of which proved fatal. Anti-toxin has been pro- vided by the state board of health, and placed by this board in central locations for use by physicians in cases where people are unable to purchase the same. Culture tubes for diphtheria and sputum bottles for suspected tuberculosis have been obtainable at the same stations.


Warning cards are used in dealing with scarlet fever and with diphtheria, and the premises are fumigated by the use of the formaldehyde gas regenerator, immediately after the termi- nation of the case. An inspection is made by the agent of the board of the premises where diphtheria is reported, and all sani- tary defects discovered are required to be remedied as soon as possible.


Tuberculosis .- Fifty-three cases of tuberculosis have been re- ported during the year. There were eighty-four deaths from this disease.


Typhoid Fever .- Fifty-two cases of typhoid fever have been reported during the year, nine of which have proved fatal. In 1904 there were ninety-six cases reported, eleven of which were fatal.


Typhus Fever, Cholera .- No cases of typhus fever or cholera have been reported the past year.


Smallpox .- No cases of smallpox have been reported during the year.


Number of cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria for which houses


were placarded 336


Number of premises disinfected by agent 572


Disinfection.


It will be seen by the foregoing figures that, in addition to the 336 premises infected with scarlet fever or diphtheria, 236 other premises were disinfected. Thirty-four disinfections were made at the request of attending physicians whose patients had been ill with typhoid fever or cancer. One hundred and sixteen schoolrooms were disinfected for scarlet fever or diphtheria, and eighty-six premises for tuberculosis, in compliance with the regu- lations passed by this board.


Many library books have also been disinfected, and quan- tities of infected bedding and other material have been burned.


256


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLES.


The prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever in the city during the several months of the year 1905 is shown by the following table, and in the table next following is given the number of deaths from these three diseases, by months, during the last ten years :-


Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever Reported in 1905.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


Cases


Reported.


Number of


Deaths.


Percentage


of Deaths.


Reported.


Number of


Percentage


of Deaths.


Reported.


Number of


Percentage


of Deaths.


January


6


35


3


8.6


....


...


..


February


7


1


14.3


21


2


9.5


6


....


..


March


16


1


6.3


11


...


. .


...


April


10


..


. .


18


1


5.6


2


1


50.0


May .


7


1


16.4


9


1


...


3


1


33 3


August


7


1


14.3


4


1


4.6


10


. .


1


11,1


November .


19


....


....


19


3


15.8


3


3


100.0


December .


32


. ..


....


23


3


13.1


1


1


100.0


Total .


137


4


2.9


199


17


8.6


52


9


17.3


Deaths from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever in the Last Ten Years.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


MONTHS.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


1901.


190%.


1903.


1904.


1905.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


1900.


1901.


1902.


1903.


1904.


1905.


1896.


1897.


1898.


1899.


1900.


1901.


1902.


1903.


1904.


1905.


January


1


10


4


2


1


1


3


1


February .


March


-


1


1


5


1


2


1


1


1


2


1


2


1


May


4


7


1


5


3


2


2


3


1


1


1


1


1


1


June


2


1


3


1


1


2


1


1


1


2


July


5


1


·


..


.


1


2


1


2


2


1


2


1


1


. .


September


2


1


1


5


1


6


3


2


2


2


3


2


1


3


1


1


2


1


November


2


1


7


8


2


1


3


2


3


3


5


1


3


2


3


3


December


1


3


1


1


3


1


:


6


1


1


5


4


1


5


2


2


3


1


..


1


3


.


co .


. .


1


1


Total


5 6 0 3 7 5 310


3 4 54 44 10 11 49 29


19 19 14 17


26 11 11 15


9 12, 6 10 11


9


June .


6


2


2


100.0


July .


4


. . .


1


.


....


. .


10


. .


September .


7


. .


21


2


9.5


9


October


16


. .


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


1


1


1


1


1


. .


April


1


1


2


3


3


.


..


7


9


1


2


1


6


2


2


1


3


1


2


.


.


.


. .


1


1


2


1


1


1


1


1


.


2


August


2


.


2


1


·


4


1


1.


5


2


3


5


. .


1


..


:


-


-


-


-


1


6.7


5


15


Deaths.


Cases


Deaths.


Cases


....


1


1900.


-


4


1


1


1


October .


.


1


3


1


22


267


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Contagious Hospital.


With the growth of a city there is an increasing liability to the prevalence of contagious diseases, and the problem of con- trolling these affections and preventing serious epidemics be- comes a difficult one to solve. It is a well-recognized fact that if persons suffering with these diseases can be properly isolated, the danger of the spread of the contagion is averted. In many cases occurring in private homes and apartment houses, anything like suitable isolation and necessary care are impossible, and unless the patient can be removed, the other members of the family, or the members of several families are more or less exposed to the infection.


The large cities have long maintained hospitals in which persons suffering with these diseases could be treated, and many of the smaller cities have recently established such hospitals. The city of Somerville purchased the Russell estate at the corner of North street and Broadway, West Somerville, on May 17, 1901, for the purpose of establishing a contagious hospital. For some reason nothing further was done until a year ago, when the agitation in favor of the project was renewed, and later on an appropriation of $5,000 was made by the board of aldermen for the purpose of converting the Russell house in its present loca- tion into a contagious hospital, the balance of the land having . been transferred to the overseers of the poor department by the board of aldermen.


Work was begun early in the fall, and has progressed so rapidly that the building is nearly ready for occupancy. The in- terior of the old building has been entirely remodeled, and an addition has been built containing rooms for the matron and nurses, besides a kitchen, laundry, isolation ward, and serving rooms. The first floor of the main building will be used for diph- theria patients, and cases of scarlet fever will be treated on the second floor. The rooms and halls are so arranged that the two diseases will be kept entirely separate.


There are two large wards, in which several beds can be placed, and smaller rooms for one or two patients. Everything has been so planned that the building is well adapted for the pur- pose intended. Forty or more patients can be accommodated at one time, and the facilities for taking care of them will be of the best and most modern character.


Here patients may be taken when proper isolation or care are impossible at home, and thus will the prevalence of these dis- eases be better controlled and the public health be better pro- tected.


Bacteriological Department.


The work of this department was performed by Frank L. Morse, M. D., whose report is appended to this report :-


268


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Specimens will be received at the laboratory at the city hall daily, including Sunday, at any time, and they will be examined and reported upon the morning following their reception.


SPECIMENS AND ANTI-TOXIN.


Outfits for specimens for tuberculosis, diphtheria, typhoid fever and malaria, and diphtheria anti-toxin and vaccine lymph may be obtained at the laboratory and at the following places :-


Charles H. Crane, 154 Perkins street.


Will B. Fitts, 173 Washington street.


Milton H. Plummer, 25 Union square.


Fred W. Gay, 524 Somerville avenue.


Hart Brothers, 263 Highland avenue.


Percy A. Hall, 2 Studio building, Davis square.


Herbert E. Bowman, 529 Medford street, Magoun square.


Eugene B. Carpenter, 10 Broadway.


Julius E. Richardson, 310 Broadway.


After the specimen is collected, it must be taken or sent directly to the laboratory at the city hall.


Districts.


A map showing the health districts was printed with the annual reports for 1904 and previous years. This division of dis- tricts was made by the board of health of 1878, and has since remained unchanged.


A record has been kept from year to year, of the number of deaths, the death rate per thousand, the prevalence of dangerous diseases, and the number of nuisances abated in these several dis- tricts, and is continued in the following tables, and in the table near the beginning of this report.


The estimated population in the several districts was origi- nally based on the number of assessed polls in each, and upon the population of the entire city ; the ratio of polls to population being presumed to be the same in all the districts. Substantially the same method of estimating the population has been con- tinued, the census of every fifth year being taken as a basis for calculation.


The number of dwellings and of assessed polls May 1. 1905, has been obtained from the assessors' books.


1


269


Table of Deaths in Each District During the Last Ten Years.


Districts .


1


II.


III.


IV.


V.


VI.


VII.


VIII.


IX.


×


Entire City.


Area


337 A.


107 A.


93 A.


171 A.


361 A.


285 A.


194 A.


482 A.


174 A.


456 A.


2,660 A.


Population


·


6,853


6,985


5,315


5,529


15,416


10,755


5,056


4,670


4,840


4,581


70,000


In 1905.


Dwellings


1,090


1,148


704


881


2,759


1,739


895


896


836


976


11,924


Average in each dwelling .


6.3


6.1


7.5


6.3


5.6


6.2


5.7


5.2


5.8


4.7


5.9


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Rate


per 1,000.


Deaths.


Rate


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


per 1,000.


1896 .


155


22


18


77


17


105


19


180


16


97 93


16 15


82 68


46 40


16 14


29


8


53


18


859


15


1898 .


161


23


67


13


79


16


88


17


194


18


92


15


93


14


28


9


50


12


28


00


880


15


1899


102


14


68


13


81


16


113


19


14


14


87


5


34


=


12


54


12


51


15


967


16


1900


.


·


17


74


12


70


13


67


11


178


15


65


10


82 66


41 47


14


58


11


73


20


831


13


1901


.


140


18


80


13


75


14


73


12


184


18


70


10


71


53


15


63


12


81


20


890


13


1902


.


158


20)


79


13


76


14


89


14


151


12


96


14


90


64


17


65


12


87


18


955


14


1904 .


175


21


58


9


85


15


79


10


165


15


131


18


89


11


46


11


52


10


84


15


964


14


1905 .


169


24


61


9


78


15


91


17


158


11


111


10


90


17


51


11


68


14


91


19


968


14


Average death rate per 1,000 for } ten years · .


20


13


15


16


15


14


12


13


11


16


14


co


52


21


924


17


1897 .


158


22


15


80


16


88


17


170


15


155 229


87 82


13


11


134


17


92


15


87


16


115


19


20


.


.


.


46


11


28


9


801 13


1903


·


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


YEAR.


Rate


Deaths.


Number of


per 1,000.


Number of


Deaths.


Rate


13


12


550


133


94 80


36


Rate


270


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table Showing the Five Principal Causes of Death in Somerville in 1905, with the Number and Rate in Each District.


PNEUMONIA.


TUBERCULOSIS.


HEART DISEASE.


APOPLEXY.


NEPHRITIS.


DISTRICTS.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


Number of


Deaths.


Number per


10,000 of Pop.


I.


16


23.4


20


29.2


15


21.9


10


14.6


8


11.7


II.


8


11.5


5


7.1


10.1


5


7.1


8.7


III.


14


26.3


15.1


9


16.9


6


11.3


9.4


IV.


15


27.1


co


23.6


9


16.3


4


7.2


9.1


V.


20


12.9


5.2


0


6.5


11


7.1


6.5


VI.


17


15.8


8.4


9


8.4


7


6.5


7


6.5


VII.


21.8


9.9


8


15.8


8


15.8


6


17.8


VIII.


12.9


6


12.9


7


14.9


5


10.8


3


6.5


IX.


22.8


5


10.4


2


6.2


5


10.4


6


12.4


X.


19.6


5


10.9


5


10.9


3


6.6


4


8.7


Total .


127


18.2


84


12.0


82


11.7


64


9.1


63


9.0


Table of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever in Each District in 1905.


SCARLET FEVER.


DIPHTHERIA.


TYPHOID FEVER.


DISTRICTS.


Reported.


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


Reported.


Deaths.


Cases per


Deaths per


I.


20


1


2.92


0.15


25


3.65


0.15


9


2


0.88


0.29


II.


17


1


2.44


0.14


III.


Cr


0.94


31


5.83


0.19


6


1


1.13


0.19


IV.


19


1


3.45


0.18


33


1


5.97


0.18


2


1


0.36


0.18


V.


15


0,98


17


3


1.11


-0.19


6


1


0.38


0.07


VI.


18


..


.. .


OH


1


2.18


0.19


3


0.59


...


VIII.


. .


2.14


1


4.07


0.22


IX.


. .


1.24


10


1


1.04


0,21


2


0.41


..


X.


1


1.96


0.22


13


2


2.84


0.44


9


3


1.96


0.36


Total .


137


4


1.96


0.06


199


17


2.84


0.24


52


9


0.74


0.13


...


co


2.79


0.29


14


1


1.31


0 09


VII.


18


. .


3.56


..


191


1.29


0.43


4


.


0.58


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


Deaths.


Cases per


1,000 of Pop.


Deaths per


1,000 of Pop.


1,000 of Pop.


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


1,000 of Pop.


Cases


9


. .


....


..


000


1.67


0, 00 00


OCTOTO


6191


10,000 of Pop.


-


271


Rates Per Thousand of Population of Cases of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Typhoid Fever Reported and of Deaths from the Same, in the Last Seven Years.


1899.


1900.


1901.


1902.


1903.


1904.


1905.


Av'age for Seven Yrs.


DISTRICTS.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


Scarlet Fever.


Diphtheria.


Typhoid Fever.


I.


§ Cases Deaths .


9.40 2.43 0.81 0.27


0.13


1.30


....


1.29 9.46 1.17 0.26 0.78 . . . .


1.92 1.79 0.51 0.13 0.64 0.13


2.12 0.12


4.60 0.37 0.50 0.12


1.3 9.21 2.63 0.48 0.24


2.92 3.65 0.88 3.38,6.16 1.08 0.15 0.15 0.29


( Cases


2.04 2.04 0.85


1.81


7.09 0.99


0.98 4.59 0.98 .... 0.33 0.16


1.32 2.13 0.32


1.60 0.16


3.36 0.48 0.16 0.16 0.


2. 5.60 1.24 0.11 0.31


2.44 1.29 0.58 0.14 0.43 ....


1.77 3.73 0.78 0.61 1.70 0.97


III.


§ Cases Deaths .


1.99 5.09 0.39


3.66 10.22 2.12


2.13 2.61 0.19


2.56 0.18


4.94 0.18 0.36


0.89 7.41 2.29 0.53 0.18


0.94 5.83 1.13 0.19|0.19


0.08|0.62 0.16


IV.


§ Cases Deaths


3.21 3.04 1.01 0.34


0.49


1.15


..


0.16 0.16


3.12 0.16


3.90 0.31 0.78 0.16


3.45 5.97 0.36 0.18 0.18 0.18


2.80 6.24 0.87 0.12 0.42 0.07


V.


§ Cases Deaths .


3.31 1.74 0.97 0.18


0.35


...


. . .


....


0.17 0.09


1 39 0.16


1.97 0.74 0.33 0 16 ....


2.02 1.78 0.08 0.25


0.98 1.11 0.38 .... 0.19 0.07


2.42 5.19 1.15


VI.


§ Cases Deaths .


3.59 2.34 1.72


2.55


8.99 0.89 0.59 0.15


2.83 3.29 1.94 0.29 0.45 ....


1.74 6.41 1.02 0.29 0.87 0.29


2.30 0.29


3.02 0.43


2.11 9.54 0.71 0.14


1.67 2.79 1.31 0.29 0.09


0.04 0.31 0.17


VII.


§ Cases Deaths .


1.54 1.96 2.09


2.73


4.78 0.96 0.27 0.14


1.35 2.69 0.68 0.14 0.14


0.59 3.02 0.13 0.26


.. ..


....


....


....


...


1.98 3.47 0.49


2.14 4.07


2.51 4.42 0.39


VIII.


§ Cases Deaths .


1.22 2.49


4.53


6.99 0.60 0.30 0.30


0.59 0.29


0.29


....


2.81 4.04 2.63


0.78 2.71


2.97


2 23 0.37


1.43 3.39 0.89


2.41 3.35 1.17


IX.


§ Cases Deaths .


..


....


...


0.19


·


....


....


....


0.12 0.15


X.


§ Cases Deaths .


1.88 2.19 1.88


5.45


7.75 0.58


5.57 8.07 2.51 0.56 1.68 0.28


0.25 0.25 1.72 5.41 0.25 ....


0.21


2.87 1.03 0.41 0.21


4.01 5.56 2.04 0.14 0.19


1.96 2.84 1.96 0.22 0.44


3.38|4.99 1.47 0.16 0.69 0.11


City


§ Cases Deaths .


2.62 2.45 1.22 0.05 0.18 0.25


3.73 0.11


0.79 0.15


2.07 5.39 1.24 0.08 0.46 0.19 0.46 0.29 0.09


1.20 3.45 0.43


2.18 10.15


3.11 0.57 0.28 0.15


1.71 5.34 1.39 1.96 2.84 0.74 2.21 4.42 0.95 0.05 0.21 0.16 0.06 0.24 0.13 0.14 0.35 0.16


....


0.59 0.39


0.19


1.35


...


. .


4.75 15.88 2.13


2.28 7.34 0.82 0.33


1.28 2.56 0.81


1.51 4.98 0.61


....


. ...


4.13


5.08 0.95 0.69 0.43


1.37 4.26 0.86 0.09 0.26


0.59 4.11 0.54


1.30


2.47 1.04 0.13 0.52


2.16 3.43 0.51 0.38 0.13


3.56 2.18 0.50 0.19


1.89 2.93 0.85 0.07 0.19 0.21


..


..


2.19 7.97 0.88


2.56 3.84


0.29


2.91 0.26


2.11 0.53


..


....


0,22


0.04 0.20 0.09


3.95 3.26 2.79 0.23 0.47


3.71


6.81 1.09 0 22 0.22


1.73


..


....


.


.


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


II.


Deaths


....


0.51 0.34


0.16


....


....


..


0.16


....


..


0.14 .... 0.56


0.27


4.69 11.98 1.17


.. . .


....


0.11 0.59 0.11


2.29 5.16 0.96 0.19 1.31 0.39


2.07 5.89 1.04


...


0.73


1.80 2.89 0.89 0.05 0.22 0.26


...


1.24 1.04 0.41 0.21


0.36


3.08


8.39 1.16


.


272


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Undertakers.


Under the provisions of section 44 of chapter 78 of the re- vised laws of 1902, eighteen persons have been duly licensed as undertakers.


Examiners of Plumbers.


The public statutes provide for a board of examiners of plumbers, consisting of a chairman of the board of health, the inspector of buildings, and an expert at plumbing, to be ap- pointed by the board of health. This board appointed Duncan C. Greene, the inspector of plumbing, to fill the place of expert. The number of licenses granted will be found in the report of the inspector of buildings.


Financial Statement. HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$39,500 00


Receipts :----


Milk fees


115 10


Permit fees


66 00


Emanuel Zetterman, care of Gustave


Zetterman


8 00


City of Boston, care of Thane family


16 92


City of Boston, care of Lucy Nuro


315 00


Amounts transferred :-


To health department, collection of ashes and offal


$24,000 00


To public buildings construction, health


1,200 00


25,200 00


Total credit


$14,821 02


Salaries


$1,233 28


Wagons, sleds, etc.


39 11


Tools and repairing same


74 40


Harnesses and horse clothing


5 65


Horses and horse doctoring .


8 65


Horseshoeing


24 00


Vaccine virus


6 65


Burying dead animals


133 50


Office expenses


33 85


Books, stationery, printing and postage


252 05


Bacteriological laboratory


2 67


Board of agent's horse .


275 86


Telephones


93 49


Care of contagious diseases


1,431 12


Incidentals


164 76


Total debit


$6,779 04


Balance unexpended


$8,041 98


.


.


$40,021 02


department


DEBIT.


273


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Health Department, Collection of Ashes and Offal.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$24,000 00


Receipts :---


A. M. Prescott, sale of horse 30 00


Hannibal S. Pond, city offal to April 1, 1905


275 00


Sundry persons, city offal April 1 to De- cember 31 .


4,549 86


Transferred from Highways Maintenance


4,000 00


Total credit


.


$32,854 86


DEBIT.


Salary of superintendent .


$1,200 00


Collecting ashes


17,853 21


Collecting offal


14,945 25


building fence, laying water main, etc.,


912 33


Stable expenses


1,458 00


Wagons, sleds, etc. .


519 05


Extending roof at offal shed and manure pit at stable


278 53


Tools and repairing same


93 85


Washstand, etc., at offal shed


111 67


Hose cock, etc., at offal shed .


88 05


Harnesses and horse clothing


431 06


Horses and horse doctoring .


624 50


Board of superintendent's horse


280 20


Horseshoeing


770 47


Hay and grain .


4,276 69


Incidentals


240 79


Total debit


$44,083 65


Amount overdrawn


$11,228 79


Amount overdrawn, health department, col- lection of ashes and offal .


$11,228 79


Amount unexpended, Health Department account


8,041 98


Net amount expended above original appropriation


$3,186 81


ALLEN F. CARPENTER, Chairman, EDMUND S. SPARROW, WESLEY T. LEE, M. D.,


Board of Health.


Preparing shed,


constructing driveway,


·


·


account


REPORT OF BACTERIOLOGIST.


Somerville, January 10, 1906.


To the Board of Health of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith present the report of the bacteriol- ogist for the year 1905.


During the latter part of December, 1902, in accordance with your vote, a laboratory was established at the city hall, and regu- lar bacteriological examinations were commenced upon January 1, 1903, which have been continued during the past year.


During the year 1905 792 examinations were made of cul- tures for the diphtheria organism, 162 examinations made of sputum from patients suspected of having tuberculosis, and seventy-eight examinations to detect the Widal reaction in typhoid fever.


With the beginning of 1903, your board established regula- tions, which required, in cases of diphtheria, that no patient should be released from quarantine until two consecutive nega- tive cultures had been obtained from the patient, one by the at- tending physician and one by a physician representing the board, thus making the work more extensive than had been previously required.


On May 1 of the present year, in response to a request from the Somerville Medical Society, representing the physicians of the city, the taking of the first release culture was made optional with the attending physician, and if so requested, the physician representing the board took all of the release cultures. In addi- tion, it was also voted that all patients ill with scarlet fever should be examined by a physician designated by the board, before re- leasing the family from quarantine, and the bacteriologist was instructed to perform both of these duties, and was made an agent of the board of health. Since this time 209 visits have been made for the purpose of taking release cultures in cases of diphtheria, and 126 visits to examine patients convalescent from scarlet fever, it being necessary to inspect forty-five patients ill with the latter disease a second and sometimes third time before releasing them from quarantine, on account of the process of desquamation still being present.


Culture stations were also established at four different parts of the city, which were later increased to nine in number, to more generally accommodate the physicians of the city, at which places, in connection with the laboratory, culture outfits, diphtheria anti- toxin, typhoid fever outfits, vaccine lymph, and sputum bottles could be obtained. To avoid delay in the examination of speci- mens, it was required that all specimens should be sent to the laboratory at the city hall, thus obviating any delay through the culture stations. Cultures left at the city hall as late as midnight


275


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


are placed in the incubator immediately, making it possible for a result to be obtained early the next morning.


Diphtheria .- Seven hundred and ninety-two cultures have been examined for diphtheria, 346 being in males, and 446 in females. Diphtheria being a disease of children, 204 of these examinations have been made in children under five years of age, 260 in those from five to ten years of age, 139 from ten to twenty, and 170 in adults over twenty years. In nineteen cases the age of the patient was not stated. Two hundred and sixty-three ex- aminations were made for the diagnosis of the case, sixty-one proving positive, and 202 negative. Of the positive results, fif- teen were of cases in which the attending physician's diagnosis of diphtheria was confirmed, ten in which the clinical diagnosis- was not diphtheria, and thirty-six in which no definite diagnosis was made. Of the 202 negative examinations, twenty-three were obtained in which the clinical diagnosis was diphtheria, seventy- six in which the diagnosis was not diphtheria, and 103 in which no diagnosis had been made.


Five hundred and twenty-five cultures were taken for release. of patients from quarantine, 139 of which were positive, and 386 negative. The importance of taking release cultures is demon- strated by these figures, these patients showing the presence of the bacilli in the throat after the clinical evidence of the disease. had disappeared. In four examinations there was no growth: upon the serum tube.


Tuberculosis .- One hundred and sixty-two examinations: have been made of sputum suspected of containing the tubercle bacillus, twenty-two of which were positive and 140 negative. In forty-nine cases a definite diagnosis of this disease had been made by the attending physician, but in thirty-eight of them the organism could not be detected. In the remainder of the cases, sixty-four were stated as not showing evidence of the disease, five being positive, and in forty-nine cases no statements were made giving information as to its character, six of which were positive. Sixty-nine were males and ninety-three females. Although printed directions accompany each outfit, telling how the speci- men should be obtained, it has not been unusual for specimens to: be sent to the laboratory containing only saliva from the mouth, with no excretion from the lungs or bronchial tubes. Physicians- should be urged to give definite instructions to each patient, relating to the collection of the sputum, for in some instances a negative report would mislead both physician and patient. Con- sumption to-day is recognized as an infectious disease, and all' persons afflicted with it should be instructed in the modern methods for preventing its spread. In some cases this is not done by the attending physician, and during the past two years your board has required that this disease be reported to you, as other infectious diseases are, and that printed instructions and. advice be sent to each patient ill with the disease. The decrease.


.


276


ANNUAL REPORTS.


in the death rate of consumption, and the cure of persons afflicted with it, is due to the improved and intelligent manner with which cases are treated, and the prevention of further spread of the dis- ease is a subject which is of importance to all local boards of health.


Typhoid Fever .- Seventy-eight examinations of the blood of patients suspected of having typhoid fever have been made, twenty-six of which proved positive. In twelve cases a positive diagnosis of this disease had been made by the attending physi- cian, in six cases it was stated not to be typhoid fever, and in the remainder no statement was made relating to the diagnosis. Of the negative results, one was diagnosed as typhoid, five were said not to be typhoid, and in forty-four no diagnosis was made. Forty-five were males and thirty-three females. In two cases the specimens were not satisfactory for examination.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.